HEALTHY PASTORATES FEEL GOOD
If you have had a good experience as pastor of a church over several years, then you have developed a deep affection for the members of the congregation. If the congregation demonstrates the signs of health as a congregation, you can feel a deep satisfaction in what has happened during your years as the pastor of the church. Both because of your affection for the members and your sense of accomplishment in what has happened under your guidance, you want this healthy ministry to extend into the future. You have heard the horror stories of churches experiencing great difficulty in making the transition to a new pastor. You have too much love for your congregation to want that to happen.
FACING TWO REALITIES
Retirement after a long and healthy pastorate raises some important decisions. Five years from the time that you retire, you want to be able to hear that the healthy congregation that you left has continued to grow in discipleship and remains a strong congregation. Two realities are part of that process. First, you are the pastor of the congregation and you have a responsibility to offer them spiritual leadership in preparing for that transition. Second, you won’t be the pastor of that congregation after you retire, and you need to think about how to “let go” in a healthy manner.
YOUR FIRST STEP
As a first step in that process, take two pieces of paper. On the first sheet, write for 15 to 20 minutes on what you think are your spiritual responsibilities towards this congregation as you approach retirement. How can you help them prepare?
On the second sheet, write 15-20 minutes on what your behavior is going to be towards the church once you have retired. Include in that how you are going to respond to requests for pastoral care, weddings, funerals, invitations to offer advice regarding church decisions, etc. How are you going to relate to those who have been important friends?
YOUR FAMILY IS PART OF THE PROCESS
Include also thoughts about the relationship of members of your family towards the church. If one of them sings in the choir, has a favorite church group, etc., what are they going to do? This is not an easy time for them, either. The more you can think through the process ahead of time, including talking with your family, the better you will be able to make intentional decisions. More on that conversation later.
A HEALTHY TRANSITION
While I will go into more detail in future blogs, this first assignment is an important part of thinking through the process of having a healthy transition both for you and the church. Your relationships in the congregation have been deep and meaningful. You don’t want to act in ways that can harm the church or leave bitter feelings among the membership.
